UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 14, 2017

LOGO

WHOLE FOODS MARKET, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas
(State of
incorporation)
  0-19797
(Commission
File Number)
  74-1989366
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)

550 Bowie Street
Austin, Texas 78703

(Address of principal executive offices)

(512) 477-4455
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

ý
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4c))

Emerging growth company  o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o

   


Item 1.01     Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement .

        On June 15, 2017, Whole Foods Market, Inc. (the "Company") entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") by and among Amazon.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Amazon"), the Company, and Walnut Merger Sub, Inc., a Texas corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amazon ("Merger Sub"). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company (the "Merger"), with the Company continuing as the surviving company in the Merger.

        Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, each share of common stock, no par value, of the Company ("Whole Foods Shares") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (other than Whole Foods Shares owned by the Company, Merger Sub, Amazon, or any of their respective direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, in each case, not held on behalf of third parties and Whole Foods Shares owned by shareholders who have exercised their rights as dissenting owners under Texas law) will be converted into the right to receive $42.00 per Whole Foods Share in cash, without interest.

        The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the Company and Amazon relating to their respective businesses and organizations, in each case generally subject to materiality qualifiers. Additionally, the Merger Agreement provides for customary pre-closing covenants of the Company, including covenants relating to conducting its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and refraining from taking certain actions without Amazon's consent, covenants not to solicit proposals relating to alternative transactions or, subject to certain exceptions, enter into discussions concerning or provide information in connection with alternative transactions and covenants requiring the Company's board of directors (the "Board"), subject to certain exceptions, to recommend that the Company's shareholders approve the Merger Agreement.

        Prior to the approval of the Merger Agreement by the Company's shareholders, the Board may withdraw, qualify, or modify its recommendation that the Company's shareholders approve the Merger Agreement or approve, recommend, or otherwise declare advisable any Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) subject to complying with notice and other specified conditions.

        Amazon and the Company have agreed to use their respective reasonable best efforts, subject to certain exceptions, to, among other things, consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement as promptly as reasonably practicable and obtain any required regulatory approvals. Amazon is not required to take any action or to agree to any restriction or condition with respect to any asset, operation or business or the conduct of business of Amazon, the Company or their respective subsidiaries, other than divestitures of certain of the Company's assets. Amazon is not permitted to acquire control of any third party in North America in the grocery industry that operates physical retail grocery stores if that would materially impact the regulatory approval process.

        Consummation of the Merger is subject to various conditions, including, among others, customary conditions relating to the approval of the Merger Agreement by the requisite vote of the Company's shareholders, and expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and Competition Act (Canada) clearance. The obligation of each party to consummate the Merger is also conditioned on the other party's representations and warranties being true and correct (subject to certain materiality exceptions) and the other party having performed in all material respects its obligations under the Merger Agreement. The transaction is not conditioned on Amazon's receipt of financing.

        The Merger Agreement also provides for certain mutual termination rights of the Company and Amazon, including the right of either party to terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger is not consummated by February 15, 2018 (the "Outside Date"), provided that the Outside Date may be extended by either party one time for a period of 90 days under certain circumstances. Either party may also terminate the Merger Agreement if the Company's shareholder approval has not been obtained at a duly convened meeting of the Company's shareholders or an order permanently

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restraining, enjoining, or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger becomes final and non-appealable. In addition, Amazon may terminate the Merger Agreement if the Board changes its recommendation in favor of the Merger prior to approval of the Merger by the Company's shareholders.

        The Company will be required to pay a fee of $400 million (the "Termination Fee") if, prior to the approval of the Merger by the Company's shareholders, the Merger Agreement is terminated by Amazon because the Board has changed its recommendation in favor of the Merger or by the Company to enter into an agreement for an alternative transaction. The Company will also be required to pay the Termination Fee if the Merger Agreement is terminated in certain other circumstances and the Company enters into a definitive agreement with respect to, or consummates, an alternative transaction that results in a change of control of at least 50% of the Company's assets or equity.

        The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

        Important Statement regarding the Merger Agreement.     The Merger Agreement has been included to provide investors with information regarding terms of the Merger. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about the Company, Amazon, or their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. The representations, warranties, and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement were made only for purposes of the Merger Agreement and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement, may be subject to limitations, qualifications or other particulars agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Merger Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts or made for other purposes, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to investors. Investors are not third-party beneficiaries under the Merger Agreement and should not rely on the representations, warranties, and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the parties thereto or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of representations and warranties may change after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in the Company's public disclosures.

Item 5.02     Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

        On June 14, 2017, the Company entered into a change of control letter agreement with Keith Manbeck, the Company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, in accordance with his offer letter, dated May 2, 2017, with the Company (which was previously disclosed on the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2017). The change of control letter agreement provides that, if upon or following a change of control, Mr. Manbeck's employment is terminated by the Company without cause or Mr. Manbeck resigns with good reason, he will be entitled to receive the following, subject to his execution and non-revocation of a general release of claims in favor of the Company: (1) a lump sum cash payment equal to $2 million; (2) if such termination of employment occurs prior to the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of its 2017 fiscal year, an additional lump sum cash payment of $975,000; if such termination of employment occurs on or after the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of its 2017 fiscal year but prior to the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of its 2018 fiscal year, an additional lump sum cash payment of $650,000; and if such termination of employment occurs on or after the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of the 2018 fiscal year but prior to the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of the 2019 fiscal year, an additional lump sum cash payment of $325,000; (3) to the extent any portion of the restricted stock award or option award granted to Mr. Manbeck pursuant to his offer letter remains unvested as of such termination of employment, full accelerated vesting of such awards;

2


and (4) to the extent any portion of the $400,000 cash compensation payable under his offer letter in respect of equity awards of a prior employer that he forfeited remains unpaid as of such termination of employment, a lump sum cash payment equal to such unpaid portion.

        The foregoing description of the change of control letter agreement with Mr. Manbeck does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the change of control letter agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.03     Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year .

        On June 15, 2017, the Board approved and adopted an amendment to and restatement of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as so amended and restated, the "Amended and Restated Bylaws") to add a new Article X containing an exclusive forum provision and to clarify a potential ambiguity.

        The exclusive forum provision provides that, unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (1) any derivative action brought on behalf of the Company, (2) any action asserting a claim for or based on a breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director or officer or other employee or agent of the Company to the Company or the Company's shareholders, including a claim alleging the aiding and abetting of such a breach of fiduciary duty, (3) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any current or former director or officer or other employee or agent of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the Texas Business Organizations Code or the Company's articles of incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws or (4) any action asserting a claim related to or involving the Company or any current or former director or officer or other employee or agent of the Company that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall, including any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of any provision of the Act, the Articles of Incorporation or the Amended and Restated Bylaws, in each case, be the state district court of Travis County, Texas (or, if such court lacks jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas). The amendment also clarifies that directors may be removed by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote for the election of directors.

        The foregoing summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended and Restated Bylaws. A copy of the Amended and Restated Bylaws is included as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.01     Other Events.

        On June 16, 2017, the Company and Amazon issued a joint press release announcing that they have entered into the Merger Agreement. On June 16, 2017, the Company also made available a related infographic. Copies of the press release and the infographic are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2, respectively, and are incorporated by reference herein.

*        *        *

Forward-Looking Statements

        Certain statements in this communication constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "see," "continue," "could," "can," "may," "will," "likely," "depend," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "target," and similar expressions, and may include references to assumptions and relate to Whole Foods Market, Inc.'s ("Whole Foods Market") future prospects, developments and business strategies. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this communication are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that may cause

3


Whole Foods Market's actual results to be materially different from such forward-looking statements and could materially adversely affect its business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows. These risks and uncertainties include the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement; the failure to obtain the approval of Whole Foods Market's shareholders or required regulatory clearances or the failure to satisfy any of the other closing conditions to the Merger; potential disruption of management's attention from Whole Foods Market's ongoing business operations due to the Merger; the effect of the announcement of the Merger on the ability of Whole Foods Market to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with its customers, suppliers and others with whom it does business, or on its operating results and business generally; general business conditions; changes in overall economic conditions that impact consumer spending; the impact of competition; and other factors which are often beyond the control of Whole Foods Market, as well other risks listed in Whole Foods Market's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2016 and risks and uncertainties not presently known to Whole Foods Market or that Whole Foods Market currently deems immaterial. Whole Foods Market wishes to caution you that you should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Whole Foods Market does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

        In connection with the proposed transaction, Whole Foods Market will file with the SEC and mail or otherwise provide to its shareholders a proxy statement regarding the proposed transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, WHOLE FOODS MARKET'S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and other documents that Whole Foods Market files with the SEC (when available) from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and Whole Foods Market's website at http://investor.wholefoodsmarket.com/. In addition, the proxy statement and other documents filed by Whole Foods Market with the SEC (when available) may be obtained from Whole Foods Market free of charge by directing a request to Cindy McCann, Global Vice President, Investor Relations, Whole Foods Market, Inc., 550 Bowie Street, Austin, TX 78703, Phone: 512-542-0204. Media inquiries can be directed to Brooke Buchanan at Brooke.Buchanan@wholefoods.com, Phone: 512-542-0751.

Certain Participants in the Solicitation

        Whole Foods Market, its directors and certain of its executive officers and employees may be deemed, under SEC rules, to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Whole Foods Market shareholders with respect to shareholder approval of the proposed acquisition of Whole Foods Market. Information regarding the names of Whole Foods Market's directors and executive officers and their respective interests in Whole Foods Market by security holdings or otherwise is set forth in Whole Foods Market's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2016 filed with the SEC on November 18, 2016, Whole Foods Market's definitive proxy statement for its 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the SEC on January 4, 2017 and Whole Foods Market's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 10, 2017. To the extent holdings of such participants in Whole Foods Market's securities are not reported, or have changed since the amounts described in the proxy statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, such changes have been reflected on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such individuals in the proposed transaction will be included in the proxy statement relating to such acquisition when it is filed with the SEC. These documents may be obtained free of charge from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and Whole Foods Market's website at http://investor.wholefoodsmarket.com.

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Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)
Exhibits
Exhibit No.   Description of Exhibit
  2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 15, 2017, by and among Amazon.com, Inc., Walnut Merger Sub, Inc. and Whole Foods Market, Inc.†

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Whole Foods Market, Inc.

 

10.1

 

Change of Control Letter Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2017, by and between Whole Foods Market, Inc. and Keith Manbeck.

 

99.1

 

Press Release, dated June 16, 2017.

 

99.2

 

Infographic.

Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to furnish supplementally copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; provided, however, that the Company may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for any schedules so furnished.

5


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

  WHOLE FOODS MARKET, INC.

Date: June 16, 2017

 

By:

 

/s/ HEATHER STERN


      Name:   Heather Stern

      Title:   General Counsel, Global Vice President of Legal Affairs

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.   Description
  2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 15, 2017, by and among Amazon.com, Inc., Walnut Merger Sub, Inc. and Whole Foods Market, Inc.†

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Whole Foods Market, Inc.

 

10.1

 

Change of Control Letter Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2017 by and between Whole Foods Market, Inc. and Keith Manbeck.

 

99.1

 

Press Release, dated June 16, 2017.

 

99.2

 

Infographic.

Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to furnish supplementally copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; provided, however, that the Company may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for any schedules so furnished.

7




Exhibit 2.1

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and among

AMAZON.COM, INC.,

WALNUT MERGER SUB, INC.

and

WHOLE FOODS MARKET, INC.

Dated as of June 15, 2017


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page  

ARTICLE I

 

The Merger; Closing; Effective Time

 

1.1.

 

The Merger

   
1
 

1.2.

 

Closing

    1  

1.3.

 

Effective Time

    2  

ARTICLE II

 

Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
of the Surviving Corporation

 

2.1.

 

Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation

   
2
 

2.2.

 

Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation

    2  

ARTICLE III

 

Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation

 

3.1.

 

Directors of the Surviving Corporation

   
2
 

3.2.

 

Officers of the Surviving Corporation

    2  

ARTICLE IV

 

Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock;
Exchange of Share Certificates

 

4.1.

 

Effect on Capital Stock

   
2
 

4.2.

 

Exchange of Share Certificates and Book Entry Shares

    3  

4.3.

 

Treatment of Stock-Based Awards; ESPP

    5  

4.4.

 

Adjustments to Prevent Dilution

    7  

ARTICLE V

 

Representations and Warranties

 

5.1.

 

Representations and Warranties of the Company

   
7
 

5.2.

 

Representations and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub

    28  

ARTICLE VI

 

Covenants

 

6.1.

 

Interim Operations

   
30
 

6.2.

 

Acquisition Proposals; Change of Recommendation

    34  

6.3.

 

Proxy Statement Filing; Information Supplied

    38  

6.4.

 

Company Shareholders Meeting

    39  

6.5.

 

Cooperation; Antitrust Matters; Status

    39  

6.6.

 

Information; Access and Reports

    41  

6.7.

 

Stock Exchange Delisting

    43  

6.8.

 

Publicity

    43  

6.9.

 

Employee Benefits

    43  

6.10.

 

Expenses

    45  

6.11.

 

Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance

    45  

6.12.

 

Resignations

    46  

i


 
   
  Page  

6.13.

 

Shareholder Litigation

    46  

6.14.

 

Other Actions by the Company

    47  

6.15.

 

Approval of Sole Shareholder of Merger Sub; No Acquisition of Shares

    47  

6.16.

 

Financing

    47  

ARTICLE VII

 

Conditions

 

7.1.

 

Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger

   
50
 

7.2.

 

Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub

    51  

7.3.

 

Conditions to Obligation of the Company

    51  

ARTICLE VIII

 

Termination

 

8.1.

 

Termination

   
52
 

8.2.

 

Effect of Termination and Abandonment

    53  

ARTICLE IX

 

Miscellaneous and General

 

9.1.

 

Survival

   
55
 

9.2.

 

Modification or Amendment

    55  

9.3.

 

Waiver

    55  

9.4.

 

Counterparts

    56  

9.5.

 

Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial; Specific Performance

    56  

9.6.

 

Notices

    57  

9.7.

 

Entire Agreement

    58  

9.8.

 

No Third Party Beneficiaries

    58  

9.9.

 

Obligations of Parent and of the Company

    58  

9.10.

 

Transfer Taxes

    59  

9.11.

 

Definitions

    59  

9.12.

 

Severability

    59  

9.13.

 

Interpretation; Construction

    59  

9.14.

 

Successors and Assigns

    59  

Annex A

 

Defined Terms

    A-1  

Exhibit A

 

Form of Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation

       

ii


AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

        This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this " Agreement "), dated as of June 15, 2017, is by and among Amazon.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation (" Parent "), Walnut Merger Sub, Inc., a Texas corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent (" Merger Sub "), and Whole Foods Market, Inc., a Texas corporation (the " Company ," with the Company and Merger Sub sometimes being hereinafter collectively referred to as the " Constituent Corporations ").

RECITALS

        WHEREAS, the parties intend that, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Merger Sub shall merge with and into the Company (the " Merger "), with the Company surviving the Merger, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Business Organizations Code (the " TBOC ");

        WHEREAS, the board of directors of Parent has unanimously approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby;

        WHEREAS, the board of directors of Merger Sub has unanimously approved this Agreement in accordance with the TBOC and unanimously recommended that this Agreement be approved by the sole shareholder of Merger Sub;

        WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the " Company Board ") has unanimously approved this Agreement in accordance with the TBOC and unanimously recommended that this Agreement be approved by the holders of shares of common stock, no par value, of the Company (the " Shares "); and

        WHEREAS, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with this Agreement and to set forth certain conditions to the Merger.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

The Merger; Closing; Effective Time

        1.1.     The Merger.     Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company in accordance with the provisions of the TBOC and the separate existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon cease. The Company shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes hereinafter referred to as the " Surviving Corporation ") and, following the Merger, shall be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent, and the separate existence of the Company, with all of its rights, title and interests to all real estate and other property owned by Merger Sub and the Company, subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances on the property, shall continue unaffected by the Merger, except as set forth in this Agreement. The Merger shall have the effects specified in this Agreement and in the TBOC.

        1.2.     Closing.     Unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing between the Company and Parent, the closing of the Merger (the " Closing ") shall take place at the offices of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, 125 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, at 9:00 a.m. (New York time) on the third Business Day (the " Closing Date ") following the day on which the last to be satisfied or waived of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions) shall be satisfied or waived in accordance with this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the term " Business Day " means any day ending at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which the Department of State of

1


the State of Texas and banks in the County of New York, New York and in Travis County, Texas are open for general business.

        1.3.     Effective Time.     As soon as practicable following, and on the date of, the Closing, the Company and Parent will cause the Merger to be consummated by filing all necessary documentation, including a Certificate of Merger (the " Certificate of Merger "), with the Secretary of State of the State of Texas as provided in the relevant provisions of the TBOC. The Merger shall become effective at the time when the Certificate of Merger has been duly filed with and accepted by the Secretary of State of the State of Texas or at such later time as may be agreed by the parties in writing and specified in the Certificate of Merger (the " Effective Time ").

ARTICLE II
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
of the Surviving Corporation

        2.1.     Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.     At the Effective Time, the articles of incorporation of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be amended and restated in their entirety as of the Effective Time to be in the form set forth in Exhibit A to this Agreement, and as so amended shall be the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation (the " Charter ") until thereafter amended as provided therein or as provided by applicable Law.

        2.2.     Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.     The parties hereto shall take all actions necessary so that the bylaws of Merger Sub in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation (the " Bylaws ") until thereafter amended as provided therein or as provided by applicable Law.

ARTICLE III
Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation

        3.1.     Directors of the Surviving Corporation.     The parties hereto shall take all actions necessary so that the directors of Merger Sub at the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors of the Surviving Corporation until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the TBOC, the Charter and the Bylaws.

        3.2.     Officers of the Surviving Corporation.     The parties hereto shall take all actions necessary so that the officers of the Company at the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving Corporation until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the TBOC, the Charter and the Bylaws.

ARTICLE IV
Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock;
Exchange of Share Certificates

        4.1.     Effect on Capital Stock.     At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any capital stock of the Company:

2


        4.2.     Exchange of Share Certificates and Book Entry Shares.     

3


4


        4.3.     Treatment of Stock-Based Awards; ESPP.     

5


6


        4.4.     Adjustments to Prevent Dilution.     Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if, from the date of this Agreement to the earlier of the Effective Time and termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII , the number of Shares or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for Shares shall have been changed into a different number of Shares or securities, or a different class, by reason of any reclassification, stock split (including a reverse stock split), stock dividend or distribution, recapitalization or other similar transaction, the Merger Consideration shall be equitably adjusted to provide the holders of Shares, Company Options, Company Restricted Share Awards, Company RSU Awards and Company SARs the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event; provided , that nothing in this Section 4.4 shall be construed to permit the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to take any action otherwise prohibited by the terms of this Agreement.

ARTICLE V
Representations and Warranties

        5.1.     Representations and Warranties of the Company.     Except as set forth in the Company Reports filed by the Company with the SEC since September 26, 2016 and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding, in each case, any disclosures set forth in any risk factor or "forward-looking statements" section to the extent they are cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature) or in the disclosure schedule delivered to Parent and Merger Sub by the Company immediately prior to the execution of this Agreement (the " Company Disclosure Schedule ") (it being agreed that disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed disclosure with respect to any other section or subsection to the extent (and only to the extent) that the relevance of such item is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub that:

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        As used in this Agreement, the term " Knowledge " means, when used with respect to the Company, the actual knowledge of the persons listed on Section 5.1(g)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

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        As used in this Agreement, (i) the term " Environmental Law " means any Law relating to the protection of the environment or human health and safety as it relates to any Hazardous Substance and (ii) the term " Hazardous Substance " means any material that is listed, regulated, classified or defined under any Environmental Law due to a potential for harm or contamination including any petroleum compounds, asbestos, lead, mold, or polychlorinated biphenyls.

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        Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the representations and warranties made in this clause (o) and in clause (h) are the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Taxes. As used in this Agreement, (A) the term " Tax " (including, with correlative meaning, the term " Taxes ") includes all federal, state, local and foreign income, windfall or other profits, franchise, gross receipts, environmental, customs duty, capital stock, severances, stamp, transfer, payroll, sales, employment, unemployment, disability,

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use, property, withholding, excise, production, value added, escheat, unclaimed property, occupancy and other taxes, duties or assessments of any nature whatsoever imposed by a Governmental Authority, together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect to such amounts and any interest in respect of such penalties and additions, and (B) the term " Tax Return " includes all returns and reports (including elections, declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates and information returns) required to be supplied to a Tax authority relating to Taxes.

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        5.2.     Representations and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub.     Parent and Merger Sub each hereby represent and warrant to the Company that:

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ARTICLE VI

Covenants

        6.1.     Interim Operations.     

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        6.2.     Acquisition Proposals; Change of Recommendation.     

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        6.3.     Proxy Statement Filing; Information Supplied.     

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        6.4.     Company Shareholders Meeting .    

        6.5.     Cooperation; Antitrust Matters; Status .    

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        6.6.     Information; Access and Reports .    

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        6.7.     Stock Exchange Delisting.     The Company and Parent shall cooperate to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws and rules and policies of NASDAQ to enable the delisting by the Surviving Corporation of the Shares from NASDAQ and the deregistration of the Shares under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time.

        6.8.     Publicity.     The initial press release regarding the Merger shall be a joint press release of Parent and the Company. Thereafter, neither the Company nor Parent, nor any of their respective Subsidiaries, shall issue any press release or make any other public announcement or public statement (to the extent not previously publicly disclosed or made in accordance with this Agreement) with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except (a) as such press release or other public announcement may be required by applicable Law, in which case the party required to issue the release or make the announcement shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the other party with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such release or announcement in advance of its issuance and shall give reasonable and good faith consideration to any such comments proposed by the other party or (b) in connection with a Change of Recommendation, actual or potential Acquisition Proposal or dispute regarding the transactions contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.8 , each of the parties may make public statements in response to questions by the press, analysts, investors, business partners or those attending industry conferences or financial analyst conference calls, so long as any such statements are not inconsistent with previous press releases, public disclosures or public statements made jointly by Parent and the Company.

        6.9.     Employee Benefits .    

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        6.10.     Expenses.     Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.2(b) , whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including all fees and expenses of its Representatives, shall be paid by the party incurring such expense.

        6.11.     Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance .    

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        6.12.     Resignations.     At the request of Parent, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause each director of the Company or any officer or director of any of the Company's Subsidiaries to resign in such capacity, with such resignations to be effective as of the Effective Time.

        6.13.     Shareholder Litigation.     Each of Parent and the Company shall promptly notify the other of any shareholder litigation against it or any of its Representatives arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall keep the other reasonably informed regarding any such shareholder litigation. Until the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article VIII , the Company shall provide Parent an opportunity to review and to propose comments to all filings or written responses to be made by the Company in connection

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with any shareholder litigation against the Company and its directors relating to any transaction contemplated by this Agreement, and the Company shall give reasonable and good faith consideration to any comments proposed by Parent. In no event shall the Company enter into, agree to or disclose any settlement with respect to such shareholder litigation without Parent's consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. Each of Parent and the Company shall notify the other promptly of the commencement of any shareholder litigation of which it has received notice.

        6.14.     Other Actions by the Company .    

        6.15.     Approval of Sole Shareholder of Merger Sub; No Acquisition of Shares .    

        6.16.     Financing .    

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ARTICLE VII
Conditions

        7.1.     Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.     The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Closing of each of the following conditions:

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        7.2.     Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub.     The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Parent at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:

        7.3.     Conditions to Obligation of the Company.     The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Company at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:

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ARTICLE VIII
Termination

        8.1.     Termination.     This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time:

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        8.2.     Effect of Termination and Abandonment .    

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ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous and General

        9.1.     Survival.     This Article IX and the agreements of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub contained in Article IV , Section 6.9 ( Employee Benefits ) and Section 6.11 ( Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance ), Section 6.16(d) ( Financing ) and any other covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement that by its terms applies in whole or in part after the Effective Time shall survive the consummation of the Merger. This Article IX and the agreements of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub contained in Section 6.10 ( Expenses ), Section 6.16(d) ( Financing ) and Section 8.2 ( Effect of Termination and Abandonment ) and the Confidentiality Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement. All other representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement shall not survive the consummation of the Merger or the termination of this Agreement.

        9.2.     Modification or Amendment.     Subject to the provisions of applicable Law, at any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived if, and only if, such amendment, modification or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment or modification by Parent, Merger Sub and the Company, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective; provided , that after the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, no amendment shall be made which by applicable Law requires further approval by the holders of Shares without obtaining such further approval. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendments or modifications to the provisions to which the Financing Sources are expressly made third party beneficiaries pursuant to Section 9.8 shall be permitted in a manner adverse to any Financing Source without the prior written consent of such Financing Source.

        9.3.     Waiver.     The conditions to each of the respective parties' obligations to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are for the sole benefit of such party and may be waived by such party in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable Law. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Law (except to the extent specifically provided otherwise in Section 8.2 ).

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        9.4.     Counterparts.     This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission or by email of a .pdf attachment shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

        9.5.     Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial; Specific Performance .    

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        9.6.     Notices.     All notices, requests, instructions or other communications or documents to be given or made hereunder by any party to the other parties to this Agreement shall be in writing and (a) served by personal delivery upon the party for whom it is intended, (b) by an internationally recognized overnight courier service upon the party for whom it is intended, (c) delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested or (d) sent by facsimile or email (as set forth below), provided that the transmission of the facsimile or email is followed up within one Business Day by dispatch pursuant to one of the other methods described herein:

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or to such other Person or addressees as has or have been designated in writing by the party to receive such notice provided above. Any notice, request, instruction or other communications or document given as provided above shall be deemed given to the receiving party (w) upon actual receipt, if delivered personally, (x) on the next Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier, if sent by an overnight courier, (y) three Business Days after deposit in the mail, if sent by registered or certified mail or (z) upon confirmation of successful transmission if sent by facsimile and followed up within one Business Day by dispatch pursuant to one of the other methods described herein. Copies to outside counsel are for convenience only and failure to provide a copy to outside counsel does not alter the effectiveness of any notice, request, instruction or other communication otherwise given in accordance with this Section 9.6 .

        9.7.     Entire Agreement.     This Agreement (including any exhibits, annexes and schedules hereto) and the documents and other agreements among the parties hereto as contemplated by or referred to herein, including the Company Disclosure Schedule, together with each other agreement entered into by or among any of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company as of the date of this Agreement that makes reference to this Section 9.7 , constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, other than the Confidentiality Agreement.

        9.8.     No Third Party Beneficiaries.     Except as provided in this Section 9.8 , Parent and the Company hereby agree that their respective representations, warranties and covenants set forth herein are solely for the benefit of the other parties hereto, in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder, including the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth herein; provided , that if, and only if, the Effective Time occurs, (a) the holders of Shares shall be third party beneficiaries of, and entitled to rely on, Section 4.1 ( Effect of Capital Stock ), (b) the holders of Company Options, Company Restricted Share Awards, Company RSU Awards and Company SARs shall be third party beneficiaries of, and entitled to rely on, Section 4.3 ( Treatment of Stock-Based Awards; ESPP ), (c) the D&O Indemnitees shall be third party beneficiaries of, and entitled to rely on, Section 6.11 ( Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance ) and (d) to the extent applicable to the Financing Sources, the Financing Sources shall be third party beneficiaries of, and entitled to rely on, Sections 8.2(e) and 9.2 . The parties hereto further agree that the rights of third party beneficiaries under the proviso of this Section 9.8 shall not arise unless and until the Effective Time occurs.

        9.9.     Obligations of Parent and of the Company.     Whenever this Agreement requires a Subsidiary of Parent to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed to include an undertaking on the part of Parent to cause such Subsidiary to take such action. Whenever this Agreement requires a Subsidiary of the Company to take any action, such requirement shall be deemed to include an undertaking on the part of the Company to cause such Subsidiary to take such action and, after the Effective Time, on the part of the Surviving Corporation to cause such Subsidiary to take such action.

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        9.10.     Transfer Taxes.     Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.2(c)(iv) , all transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other similar Taxes and fees imposed with respect to the Merger or the transfer of Shares pursuant to the Merger shall be borne by Parent or the Company and expressly shall not be a liability of holders of Shares.

        9.11.     Definitions.     Each of the terms set forth in Annex A is defined in the Section of this Agreement set forth opposite such term.

        9.12.     Severability.     The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to any Person or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application of such provision, in any other jurisdiction.

        9.13.     Interpretation; Construction .    

        9.14.     Successors and Assigns.     This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns. No party to this Agreement may assign any of its rights or delegate any of its obligations under this Agreement, by

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operation of Law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other parties, except that Merger Sub may assign any and all of its rights under this Agreement, by written notice to the Company, to another wholly-owned direct or indirect Subsidiary of Parent to be a Constituent Corporation in lieu of Merger Sub, in which event all references to Merger Sub in this Agreement shall be deemed references to such other Subsidiary, except that all representations and warranties made in this Agreement with respect to Merger Sub as of the date of this Agreement shall be deemed representations and warranties made with respect to such other Subsidiary as of the date of such designation; provided that (a) no assignment shall be permitted if such assignment would, or would reasonably be expected to, prevent or materially delay Parent or Merger Sub from performing their respective obligations under this Agreement or consummating the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (b) no assignment shall relieve Parent of any of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement. Any purported assignment in violation of this Agreement is void.

[ Signature Page Follows ]

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the date first written above.

    AMAZON.COM, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ PETER KRAWIEC

        Name:   Peter Krawiec
        Title:   Vice President

 

 

WHOLE FOODS MARKET, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ JOHN MACKEY

        Name:   John Mackey
        Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

 

WALNUT MERGER SUB, INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/ PETER KRAWIEC

        Name:   Peter Krawiec
        Title:   Vice President

   

[ Signature Page to Merger Agreement ]


ANNEX A

DEFINED TERMS

Term
  Section
Acquisition Proposal   6.2(d)
Action   5.1(g)(i)
Affiliate   5.1(c)(ii)
Agreement   Preamble
Alternative Acquisition Agreement   6.2(e)(vi)
Antitrust Laws   5.1(b)(iii)
Applicable Date   5.1(e)(i)
Benefit Plans   5.1(h)(i)
Book-Entry Share   4.1(a)
Business Day   1.2
Bylaws   2.2
Certificate of Merger   1.3
Change of Recommendation   6.2(e)(vi)
Charter   2.1
Chosen Courts   9.5(a)
Closing   1.2
Closing Date   1.2
Code   4.2(h)
Company   Preamble
Company 401(k) Plan   6.9(c)
Company Board   Recitals
Company Disclosure Schedule   5.1
Company Option   4.3(a)
Company Permits   5.1(i)(ii)(A)
Company Products   5.1(t)(ii)
Company Recommendation   5.1(c)(ii)
Company Reports   5.1(e)(i)
Company Restricted Share Award   4.3(b)
Company RSU Award   4.3(c)
Company SAR   4.3(d)
Company Shareholders Meeting   6.4(a)
Company Termination Fee   8.2(b)
Competition Act   5.1(d)(i)
Competition Bureau   6.5(d)
Confidentiality Agreement   6.6(b)
Constituent Corporations   Preamble
Continuing Employees   6.9(a)
Contract   5.1(d)(ii)
D&O Indemnitee   6.11(b)
D&O Insurance   6.11(c)(ii)
Debt Financing   6.16(b)
Debt Payoff   6.16(a)
Dissenting Shares   4.1(a)
DOJ   6.5(d)
Effective Time   1.3
Employees   5.1(h)(i)

A-1


Term
  Section
Environmental Law   5.1(n)
ERISA   5.1(h)(i)
ERISA Affiliate   5.1(h)(v)
ERISA Plan   5.1(h)(ii)
ESPP   4.3(e)
ESPP Termination Date   4.3(e)
Exchange Act   5.1(d)(i)
Excluded Shares   4.1(a)
Expense Reimbursement   8.2(b)
FCPA   5.1(s)
Final Offering   4.3(e)
Financing Source   8.2(e)
FTC   6.5(d)
Government Official   5.1(s)
Governmental Authority   5.1(d)(i)
Hazardous Substance   5.1(n)
HSR Act   5.1(b)(iii)
Indenture   6.16(a)
Indenture Documents   6.16(a)
Insurance Policies   5.1(r)
Intellectual Property Rights   5.1(q)(vii)
Intervening Event   6.2(f)
IRS   5.1(h)(ii)
IT Assets   5.1(q)(vii)
Knowledge   5.1(g)(ii)
Laws   5.1(i)(i)(A)
Leased Real Property   5.1(l)(iii)(A)
Letter of Transmittal   4.2(c)(i)
Lien   5.1(l)(iii)(B)
Material Adverse Effect   5.1(a)(ii)
Material Contract   5.1(j)(i)
Material Real Property Leases   5.1(l)(iii)(F)
material weakness   5.1(e)(iii)
Merger   Recitals
Merger Consideration   4.1(a)
Merger Sub   Preamble
Multiemployer Plan   5.1(h)(ii)
NASDAQ   5.1(a)(F)
Non-U.S. Benefit Plans   5.1(h)(i)
Notes Assumption   6.16(a)
Notes Assumption Officer's Certificate   6.16(a)
Order   7.1(c)
Outside Date   8.1(b)
Owned Intellectual Property   5.1(q)(vii)
Owned Real Property   5.1(l)(ii)
Parent   Preamble
Parent 401(k) Plan   6.9(c)
Paying Agent   4.2(a)
Payment Fund   4.2(b)
Permitted Liens   5.1(l)(iii)(C)

A-2


Term
  Section
Person   4.2(e)
Personal Information   5.1(q)(vii)
Preferred Shares   5.1(b)(i)
Proxy Statement   6.3(a)
Real Property   5.1(l)(iii)(D)
Real Property Leases   5.1(l)(iii)(E)
Registered   5.1(q)(vii)
Registered Intellectual Property   5.1(q)(vii)
Representatives   6.2(a)
Requisite Company Vote   5.1(c)(i)
SEC   5.1(e)(i)
Securities Act   5.1(e)(i)
Share Certificate   4.1(a)
Shares   Recitals
significant deficiency   5.1(e)(iii)
Significant Supplier   5.1(k)
Specified Contract   5.1(j)(vi)
Stock Plan   5.1(b)(i)
Subsidiary   5.1(a)(i)
Superior Proposal   6.2(d)
Surviving Corporation   1.1
Tail Period   6.11(c)(ii)
Takeover Statute   5.1(m)
Tax   5.1(o)
Tax Return   5.1(o)
TBOC   Recitals
Termination Payment   8.2(c)
Trademarks   5.1(q)(vii)
U.S. Benefit Plans   5.1(h)(ii)
U.S. GAAP   5.1(a)(ii)(C)
willful and material breach   8.2(a)

A-3


EXHIBIT A

Form of Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation

[Attached]


AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
OF
WHOLE FOODS MARKET, INC.
ARTICLE 1. NAME

        The name of this corporation is Whole Foods Market, Inc.

ARTICLE 2. REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

        The address of the registered office of this corporation is 211 E. 7 th  Street, Suite 620, Austin, Texas 78701-3218, and the name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

ARTICLE 3. PURPOSES

        The purpose of this corporation is to engage in any and all lawful business for which a for-profit corporation may be organized under the Texas Business Organizations Code.

ARTICLE 4. SHARES

        The total number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue is 100 shares of common stock having a par value of $.01 per share.

ARTICLE 5. BYLAWS

        The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws for this corporation, subject to the power of the shareholders to amend or repeal such Bylaws. The shareholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws for this corporation.

ARTICLE 6. DIRECTORS

        Written ballots are not required in the election of Directors. The number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be provided for in the Bylaws for this corporation. The names and addresses of the persons who are now serving as Directors of this corporation are:

Name
 
Address
[ · ]   [ · ]

ARTICLE 7. WRITTEN CONSENT OF SHAREHOLDERS

        Any action required by the Texas Business Organizations Code to be taken at any annual or special meeting of shareholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of shareholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote, if one or more written consents setting forth the action so taken shall be signed by the holder or holders of shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to take such action at a meeting at which the holders of all shares entitled to vote on the action were present and voted.

ARTICLE 8. PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS

        Preemptive rights shall not exist with respect to shares of stock or securities convertible into shares of stock of this corporation.


ARTICLE 9. CUMULATIVE VOTING

        The right to cumulate votes in the election of Directors shall not exist with respect to shares of stock of this corporation.

ARTICLE 10. AMENDMENTS TO CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION

        This corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any of the provisions contained in this Certificate of Formation in any manner now or hereafter permitted by law, and the rights of the shareholders of this corporation are granted subject to this reservation.

ARTICLE 11. LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR LIABILITY

        No Director of this corporation shall be liable to this corporation or its shareholders for an act or omission in such capacity as a Director except liability resulting from:

ARTICLE 12. INDEMNIFICATION

        This corporation shall, to the full extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify any person who was or is a party to or is threated to be made a party to any threatened, pending or contemplated action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer or Director of this corporation.

ARTICLE 13. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS WITH AFFILIATED SHAREHOLDERS

        This corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Title 2, Chapter 21 Subchapter M of the Texas Business Organizations Code.

******

2




Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

WHOLE FOODS MARKET, INC.

(A TEXAS CORPORATION)

(Effective June 15, 2017)


ARTICLE I
OFFICES

        Section 1.     Registered Office and Agent.     The registered office and registered agent of the Corporation shall be as designated from time to time by the appropriate filing by the Corporation in the office of the Secretary of State of Texas.

        Section 2.     Principal Office.     The principal office of the Corporation shall be in Travis County, Texas, or such other county as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

        Section 3.     Other Offices.     The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Texas as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II
SHAREHOLDERS

        Section 1.     Time and Place of Meetings.     Meetings of the shareholders shall be held at such time and at such place, within or without the State of Texas, as shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

        Section 2.     Annual Meetings.     Annual meetings of shareholders shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be determined by the Board of Directors. At each annual meeting the shareholders shall elect a Board of Directors and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

        Section 3.     Special Meetings.     All special meetings of the shareholders shall be held at such location, within or without the State of Texas, as may be designated, and may be called at any time, by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board of Directors, or as may be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof, and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary at the request in proper form of the holders of not less than 10% of the voting power represented by all the shares issued, outstanding and entitled to be voted at the proposed special meeting. To be in proper form, such request must be in writing, state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting and include all information that would be required to be delivered pursuant to Article II, Section 13(c) of these Bylaws. Business transacted at special meetings shall be confined to the purposes stated in the notice of the meeting or in any supplemental notice delivered by the Corporation. The Board of Directors may determine that a meeting may be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Texas law.

        Section 4.     Notice.     Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of any shareholders' meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, the means of any remote communications by which shareholders may be considered present and may vote at the meeting, shall be delivered not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, either personally, by electronic transmission or by mail, by or at the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary or the officer or person calling the meeting, to each shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the shareholder at his address as it appears on the share transfer records of the Corporation.

        Section 5.     Closing of Share Transfer Records and Fixing Record Dates for Matters Other than Consents to Action.     For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any distribution or share dividend, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose (other than determining shareholders entitled to consent to action by shareholders proposed to be taken without a meeting of shareholders), the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide that the share transfer records shall be closed for a stated period but not to exceed, in any case, 60 days. If the share transfer records shall be closed for the purpose of determining shareholders, such records


shall be closed for at least ten days immediately preceding such meeting. In lieu of closing the share transfer records, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders, such date in any case to be not more than 60 days and, in the case of a meeting of shareholders, not less than ten days prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of shareholders is to be taken. If the share transfer records are not closed and no record date is fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, or shareholders entitled to receive payment of a distribution (other than a distribution involving a purchase or redemption by the Corporation of any of its own shares) or share dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the Board of Directors declaring such distribution or share dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of shareholders. When a determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof except where the determination has been made through the closing of share transfer records and the stated period of closing has expired.

        Section 6.     Fixing Record Dates for Consents to Action.     In order that the Corporation may determine the shareholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, whenever action by shareholders is proposed to be taken by consent in writing without a meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors may fix a record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to consent to that action, which record date shall not precede, and shall not be more than ten days after, the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. Any shareholder of record seeking to have the shareholders take action by consent in writing without a meeting of shareholders shall, by written notice to the Secretary, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date, which written notice shall include all information that would be required to be delivered pursuant to Article II, Section 13(c) of these Bylaws if the shareholder had been making a nomination or proposing business to be considered at an annual or special meeting of shareholders. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within 10 days after the date on which such a request is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record date. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors within 10 days of the date on which such a request is received and the prior action of the Board of Directors is not required by the Texas Business Organizations Code (herein called the "Act"), the record date for determining shareholders entitled to consent to action in writing without a meeting shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the records in which proceedings of meetings of shareholders are recorded. Delivery shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Delivery to the Corporation's principal place of business shall be addressed to the President or Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. If no record date shall have been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action of the Board of Directors is required by the Act, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to consent to action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the date on which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution taking such prior action.

        Section 7.     List of Shareholders.     The officer or agent of the Corporation having charge of the share transfer records for shares of the Corporation shall make, at least ten days before each meeting of the shareholders, a complete list of the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of and the number of voting shares held by each, which list, for a period of ten days prior to such meeting, shall be kept on file at the registered office or principal place of business of the Corporation and shall be subject to inspection by any shareholder at any time during the usual business hours of the Corporation. Alternatively, the list of the shareholders may be kept on a reasonably accessible electronic network, if the information required to gain access to the list is provided with the notice of the meeting. This Section does not require the Corporation to include any electronic contact information of any shareholder on the list. If

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the Corporation elects to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the information is available only to shareholders of the Corporation. Such list shall also be produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection of any shareholder during the whole time of the meeting. If the meeting is held by means of remote communication, the list must be open to the examination of any shareholder for the duration of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access the list must be provided to shareholders with the notice of the meeting. The original share transfer records shall be prima facie evidence as to who are the shareholders entitled to examine such list or transfer records or to vote at any meeting of shareholders. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Section shall not affect the validity of any action taken at such meeting.

        Section 8.     Quorum.     A quorum shall be present at a meeting of shareholders if the holders of shares having a majority of the voting power represented by all issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting are present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting, unless otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation in accordance with the Act. Once a quorum is present at a meeting of shareholders, the shareholders represented in person or by proxy at the meeting may conduct such business as may properly be brought before the meeting until it is adjourned, and the subsequent withdrawal from the meeting of any shareholder or the refusal of any shareholder represented in person or by proxy to vote shall not affect the presence of a quorum at the meeting. If, however, a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of shareholders, the shareholders entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting, without notice (other than announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken of the time and place of the adjourned meeting), until such time and to such place as may be determined by a vote of the holders of a majority of the shares represented in person or by proxy at such meeting until a quorum shall be present. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.

        Section 9.     Voting.     When a quorum is present at any meeting, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on, and who voted for or against, the matter shall decide any matter brought before such meeting, other than the election of Directors or a matter for which the affirmative vote of the holders of a specified portion of the shares entitled to vote is required by the Act, and shall be the act of the shareholders, unless otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws or by resolution of the Board of Directors in accordance with the Act.

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        Section 10.     Action by Consent.     Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the shareholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the action that is the subject of the consent.

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        Section 11.     Presence at Meetings by Means of Communications Equipment.     Shareholders may participate in and hold a meeting of the shareholders by means of conference telephone or other means of remote communication equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 11 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened if (i) the Corporation implements reasonable measures to verify that each person considered present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a shareholder; (ii) the Corporation implements reasonable measures to provide the shareholders at the meeting by means of remote communication a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the shareholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of a meeting substantially concurrently with the proceedings; and (iii) the Corporation maintains a record of any shareholder vote or other action taken at the meeting by means of remote communication.

        Section 12.     Order of Business.     The Chairman of the Board, or such other officer of the Corporation designated by a majority of the Board of Directors, will call meetings of the shareholders to order and will act as presiding officer thereof. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors prior to the meeting, the presiding officer of the meeting of the shareholders will also determine the order of business and have the authority in his or her sole discretion to regulate the conduct of any such meeting, including without limitation by (i) imposing restrictions on the persons (other than shareholders of the Corporation or their duly appointed proxies) who may attend any such shareholders' meeting, (ii) ascertaining whether any shareholder or his proxy may be excluded from any meeting of the shareholders based upon any determination by the presiding officer, in his or her sole discretion, that any such person has unduly disrupted or is likely to disrupt the proceedings thereat, and (iii) determining the circumstances in which any person may make a statement or ask questions at any meeting of the shareholders.

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        Section 13.     Advance Notice of Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations .    

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        Section 14.     Submission of Questionnaire, Representation and Agreement .    To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Article II, Section 13 of these Bylaws, or, in the case of a Shareholder Nominee, the time periods prescribed for delivery of a Notice of Proxy Access Nomination under Article II, Section 15 of these Bylaws) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination or recommendation for nomination or nomination, as the case may be, is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (a) is not and will not become a party to (i) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a "Voting Commitment") that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (ii) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person's ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person's fiduciary duties under applicable law, (b) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein, (c) in such person's individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would

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be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation and (d) will abide by the requirements of Article II, Section 9 of these Bylaws.

        Section 15.     Proxy Access for Director Nominations .    

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ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

        Section 1.     Number, Election and Terms of Directors .    Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under circumstances specified in any Preferred Designation, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office determined as if there were no vacancies. No decrease in the number of directors shall have the effect of reducing the term of any incumbent director. Directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of the shareholders by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors, except as provided in Section 2 of this Article III, and each director shall hold office until the annual meeting of shareholders following his election or until his successor is elected and qualified. Directors need not be residents of the State of Texas or shareholders of the Corporation.

        Section 2.     Vacancies .    Subject to other provisions of this Section 2, any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by election at an annual or special meeting of the shareholders called for that purpose or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, though the remaining directors may constitute less than a quorum of the Board of Directors as fixed by Section 8 of this Article III. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office. Any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of directors shall be filled by election at an annual meeting or at a special meeting of shareholders called for that purpose or may be filled by the Board of Directors for a term of office continuing only until the next election of one or more directors by the shareholders; provided that the Board of Directors may not fill more than two such directorships during the period between any two successive annual meetings of shareholders. Shareholders entitled to vote at an election of directors may, at any time and with or without cause (as hereinafter defined), terminate the term of office of all or any of the directors by a vote at any annual or special meeting called for that purpose. For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding any other provision in these Bylaws the vote required to remove any director from office is a vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors as specified in Section 21.409 of the Act. Such removal shall be effective immediately upon such shareholder action even if successors are not elected simultaneously, and the vacancies on the Board of Directors caused by such action shall be filled only by election by the shareholders. For purposes of this Section 2 of Article III, "cause" means that (i) a court of competent jurisdiction has made a final non-appealable determination that the applicable director (a) has breached his or her fiduciary duties to the Corporation or (b) is incapacitated to the extent that such director is not capable of performing his or her directorial duties or (ii) the applicable director has been indicted by a governmental authority for a felony.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any class or series of shares are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, only the holders of shares of that class or series shall be entitled to vote for or against the removal of any director elected by the holders of shares of that class or series; and any vacancies in such directorships and any newly created directorships of such class or series to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of such directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors elected by such class or series then in office or by a sole remaining director so elected, or by the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of such class or series, and such directorships shall not in any case be filled by the vote of the remaining directors or the holders of the outstanding shares as a whole unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation.

        Section 3.     General Powers .    The powers of the Corporation shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of, its Board of Directors, which may do or cause to be done all such lawful acts and things, as are not by

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the Act, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the shareholders.

        Section 4.     Place of Meetings .    The Board of Directors of the Corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Texas.

        Section 5.     Annual Meetings .    The first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors shall be held, without further notice, immediately following the annual meeting of shareholders at the same place, unless by the majority vote or unanimous consent of the directors then elected and serving, such time or place shall be changed.

        Section 6.     Regular Meetings .    Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held with or without notice at such time and place as the Board of Directors may determine by resolution.

        Section 7.     Special Meetings .    Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chief Executive Officer and shall be called by the Secretary on the written request of a majority of the incumbent directors. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by such person or persons. Notice of any special meeting shall be given at least 24 hours previous thereto if given either personally (including written notice delivered personally or telephone notice) or by telex, telecopy, telegram or other electronic transmission, and at least 72 hours previous thereto if given by written notice mailed or otherwise transmitted to each director at the address of his business or residence. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting. Any director may waive notice of any meeting, as provided in Section 2 of Article IV of these Bylaws. The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

        Section 8.     Quorum and Voting .    At all meetings of the Board of Directors, the presence of a majority of the number of directors fixed in the manner provided in Section 1 of this Article III shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. At all meetings of committees of the Board of Directors (if one or more be designated in the manner described in Section 9 of this Article III), the presence of a majority of the number of directors fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors to serve as members of such committees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The affirmative vote of at least a majority of the directors present and entitled to vote at any meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors or the committee, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by the Act, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws. Directors may not vote by proxy at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Directors with an interest in a business transaction of the Corporation and directors who are directors or officers or have a financial interest in any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization with which the Corporation is transacting business may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee of the Board of Directors to authorize such business transaction. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until such time and to such place as may be determined by such majority of directors, until a quorum shall be present.

        Section 9.     Committees of the Board of Directors .    The Board of Directors may designate from among its members one or more committees, each of which shall be composed of one or more of its members, and may designate one or more of its members as alternate members of any committee, who may, subject to any limitations imposed by the Board of Directors, replace absent or disqualified members at any meeting of that committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the

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resolution of the Board of Directors designating the committee or in the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, except where action of the Board of Directors is required by the Act or by the Articles of Incorporation. Any member of a committee of the Board of Directors may be removed, for or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors. If any vacancy or vacancies occur in a committee of the Board of Directors caused by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, the vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be designated by the Board of Directors and shall keep regular minutes of their proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

        Section 10.     Compensation of Directors .    Directors, as members of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof, shall be entitled to receive compensation for their services on such terms and conditions as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Nothing herein contained, however, shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

        Section 11.     Action by Unanimous Consent .    Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if a written consent, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by all the members of the Board of Directors or the committee, as the case may be, and such written consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote at a meeting of the Board of Directors. A telegram, telex, cablegram, or other electronic transmission by a director consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a director is considered written, signed, and dated for the purposes of this article if the transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which the Corporation can determine that the transmission was transmitted by the director and the date on which the director transmitted the transmission.

        Section 12.     Presence at Meetings by Means of Communications Equipment .    Members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in and hold a meeting of such board or committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 12 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

ARTICLE IV

NOTICES

        Section 1.     Form of Notice .    Whenever under the provisions of the Act, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any shareholder, director or committee member, and no provision is made as to how such notice shall be given, it shall not be construed to mean that any such notice may be given (a) in person, (b) in writing, by mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such shareholder, director, or committee member at his address as it appears on the books of the Corporation or, in the case of a shareholder, the stock transfer records of the Corporation, (c) on consent of a shareholder, director, or committee member, by electronic transmission, or (d) by any other method permitted by law. Any notice required or permitted to be given by mail shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same be thus deposited, postage prepaid, in the United States mail as aforesaid. On consent of a shareholder, director or committee member, notice from the Corporation may be given to the shareholder, director or committee member by electronic transmission. The shareholder, director or committee member may specify the form of electronic transmission to be used to communicate notice. The shareholder, director or committee

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member may revoke this consent by written notice to the Corporation. The consent is deemed to be revoked if the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices, and the person responsible for delivering notice on behalf of the Corporation knows that delivery of these two electronic transmissions was unsuccessful. The inadvertent failure to treat the unsuccessful transmissions as a revocation of consent does not invalidate a meeting or other action. Notice by electronic transmission is deemed given when the notice is (i) transmitted to a facsimile number provided by the shareholder, director or committee member for the purpose of receiving notice; (ii) transmitted to an electronic mail address provided by the shareholder, director or committee member for the purpose of receiving notice; (iii) posted on an electronic network and a message is sent to the shareholder, director or committee member at the address provided by the shareholder, director or committee member for the purpose of alerting the shareholder, director or committee member by any other form of electronic transmission consented to by the shareholder, director or committee member.

        Section 2.     Waiver .    Whenever under the provisions of the Act, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any notice is required to be given to any director or shareholder of the Corporation, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated in such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. The business to be transacted at a regular or special meeting of the shareholders, directors or members of a committee of directors or the purpose of a meeting is not required to be specified in a written waiver of notice or a waiver by electronic transmission unless required by the Articles of Incorporation.

        Section 3.     When Notice Unnecessary .    Whenever, under the provisions of the Act, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any notice is required to be given to any shareholder, such notice need not be given to the shareholder if:

have been mailed to that person, addressed at his address as shown on the records of the Corporation, and have been returned undeliverable. Any action or meeting taken or held without notice to such a person shall have the same force and effect as if the notice had been duly given. If such a person delivers to the Corporation a written notice setting forth his then current address, the requirement that notice be given to that person shall be reinstated.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

        Section 1.     General .    The elected officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer and/or a President and a Secretary. The Board of Directors may also elect or appoint such other officers, with or without such descriptive titles as the Board of Directors shall deem appropriate. Two or more offices may be held by the same person.

        Section 2.     Election .    The Board of Directors shall elect the officers of the Corporation who shall serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors until such time as their successors are chosen and qualified. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary and shall determine the salaries of all officers and agents from time to time. No officer need be a member of the Board of Directors except the Chairman of the Board, if one be elected. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by

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a majority vote of the whole Board. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights.

        Section 3.     Chief Executive Officer .    A Chief Executive Officer to the extent appointed by the Board of Directors shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and, subject to the provisions of these Bylaws, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Corporation and shall have general and active control of all its business. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general authority to execute bonds, deeds and contracts in the name of the Corporation and affix the corporate seal thereto; to sign stock certificates; to cause the employment or appointment of such employees and agents of the Corporation as the proper conduct of operations may require, and to fix their compensation, subject to the provisions of these Bylaws; to remove or suspend any employee or agent who shall have been employed or appointed under his authority or under authority of an officer subordinate to him; to suspend for cause, pending final action by the authority which shall have elected or appointed him, any officer subordinate to the Chief Executive Officer; and, in general, to exercise all the powers and authority usually appertaining to the chief executive officer of a corporation, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws.

        Section 4.     President .    In the absence of a Chief Executive Officer, the President shall be the ranking and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, and shall have the duties and responsibilities, and the authority and power, of the Chief Executive Officer.

        Section 5.     Vice Presidents .    Vice President shall perform such duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe.

        Section 6.     Secretary .    The Secretary shall attend and record minutes of the proceedings of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any committees thereof and all meetings of the shareholders. The Secretary shall file the records of such meetings in one or more books to be kept for that purpose. The Secretary shall generally perform all the duties usually appertaining to the office of the secretary of a corporation.

        Section 7.     Assistant Secretaries .    In the absence of the Secretary or in the event of the Secretary's inability or refusal to act, the Assistant Secretary, if any (or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order designated or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election), shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe.

ARTICLE VI

CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING SHARES

        Section 1.     Form of Certificates .    The Corporation shall deliver certificates representing all shares to which shareholders are entitled. Certificates representing shares of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be approved and adopted by the Board of Directors and shall be numbered consecutively and entered in the share transfer records of the Corporation, or in the records of the Corporation's designated transfer agent, if any, as they are issued. Each certificate shall state on the face thereof that the Corporation is organized under the laws of the State of Texas, the name of the registered holder, the number and class of shares, and the designation of the series, if any, which said certificate represents, and either the par value of the shares or a statement that the shares are without par value. Each certificate shall also set forth on the back thereof a full or summary statement of matters required by the Act or the Articles of Incorporation to be described on certificates representing shares, and shall contain a conspicuous statement on the face thereof referring to the matters set forth on the back thereof. Certificates shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President or any Vice President and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and may be sealed with the seal of the

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Corporation. Either the seal of the Corporation or the signatures of the Corporation's officers or both may be facsimiles. In case any officer or officers who have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used on such certificate or certificates, shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Corporation, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates have been delivered by the Corporation or its agents, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed the certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Corporation.

        Section 2.     Lost Certificates .    The Corporation may direct that a new certificate be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost or destroyed. When authorizing the issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, may require the owner of the lost or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require and/or give the Corporation a bond in such form, in such sum, and with such surety or sureties as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

        Section 3.     Transfer of Shares .    Shares of stock shall be transferable only on the share transfer records of the Corporation by the holder thereof in person or by his duly authorized attorney. Subject to any restrictions on transfer set forth in the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws or any agreement among shareholders to which this Corporation is a party or has notice, upon surrender to the Corporation or to the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate representing shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.

        Section 4.     Registered Shareholders .    Except as otherwise provided in the Act or other applicable Texas law, the Corporation shall be entitled to regard the person in whose name any shares issued by the Corporation are registered in the share transfer records of the Corporation at any particular time (including, without limitation, as of the record date fixed pursuant to Section 5 or Section 6 of Article II hereof) as the owner of those shares and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof.

ARTICLE VII

INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND OTHERS

        Section 1.     General .    

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        Section 2.     Insurance .    The Corporation may purchase or maintain insurance on behalf of any Corporate Functionary against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in such a capacity or arising out of his status as a Corporate Functionary, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against the liability under the Act or these Bylaws; provided, however, that if the insurance or other arrangement is with a person or entity that is not regularly engaged in the business of providing insurance coverage, the insurance or arrangement may provide for payment of a liability with respect to which the Corporation would not have the power to indemnify the person only if including coverage for the additional liability has been approved by the shareholders of the Corporation. Without limiting the power of the Corporation to procure or maintain any kind of insurance or arrangement, the Corporation may, for the benefit of persons indemnified by the Corporation, (i) create a trust fund, (ii) establish any form of self-insurance, (iii) secure its indemnification obligation by grant of any security interest or other lien on the assets of the Corporation, or (iv) establish a letter of credit, guaranty or surety arrangement. Any such insurance or other arrangement may be procured, maintained or established within the Corporation or its affiliates or with any insurer or other person deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Corporation regardless of whether all or part of the stock or other securities thereof are owned in whole or in part by the Corporation. In the absence of fraud, the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Corporation as to the terms and conditions of such insurance or other arrangement and the identity of the insurer or other person participating in an arrangement shall be conclusive, and the insurance or arrangement shall not be voidable and shall not subject the directors approving the insurance or arrangement to liability, on any ground, regardless of whether directors participating in approving such insurance or other arrangement shall be beneficiaries thereof.

ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

        Section 1.     Distributions and Share Dividends .    Distributions or share dividends to the shareholders of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Act and the Articles of Incorporation and any agreements or obligations of the Corporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting. Distributions may be declared and paid in cash or in property, provided that all such declarations and payments of distributions, and all declarations and issuances of share dividends, shall be in strict compliance with all applicable laws and the Articles of Incorporation.

        Section 2.     Reserves .    There may be created by resolution of the Board of Directors out of the surplus of the Corporation such reserve or reserves as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its discretion, deems proper to provide for contingencies, or to equalize distributions or share dividends, or to repair or maintain any property of the Corporation, or for such other proper purpose as the Board shall deem beneficial to the Corporation, and the Board may increase, decrease or abolish any reserve in the same manner in which it was created.

        Section 3.     Fiscal Year .    The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

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        Section 4.     Seal .    The Corporation shall have a seal which may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any manner reproduced. Any officer of the Corporation shall have authority to affix the seal to any document requiring it.

        Section 5.     Resignation .    Any director, officer or agent of the Corporation may resign by giving written notice to the President or the Secretary. The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or immediately if no time is specified therein. Unless specified in such notice, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

        Section 6.     Invalid Provisions .    If any part of these bylaws is held invalid or inoperative for any reason, the remaining parts, so far as is possible and reasonable, shall remain valid and operative.

        Section 7.     Headings .    The headings used in these bylaws are for convenience only and do not constitute matter to be construed in the interpretation of these bylaws.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

        Unless otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation or a bylaw adopted by the shareholders of the Corporation, these Bylaws may be amended or repealed, or new Bylaws or Bylaw provisions may be adopted, at any meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation or of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on, and who voted for or against, the amendment or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at such meeting, as the case may be.

ARTICLE X

EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN DISPUTES

        Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim for or based on a breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director or officer or other employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation's stockholders, including a claim alleging the aiding and abetting of such a breach of fiduciary duty, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director or officer or other employee or agent of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the Act, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws (as any of the foregoing may be amended from time to time), or (iv) any action asserting a claim related to or involving the Corporation or any current or former director or officer or other employee or agent of the Corporation that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, including any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of any provision of the Act, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws (as any of the foregoing may be amended from time to time) shall, in each case, be the state district court of Travis County, Texas (or, if such court lacks jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas).

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Exhibit 10.1

 

[Whole Foods Market, Inc. Letterhead]

 

June 14, 2017

 

Keith Manbeck
c/o Whole Foods Market, Inc.
550 Bowie Street
Austin, Texas  78703

 

Re:                              Qualifying Termination Upon or Following a Change of Control

 

Dear Keith:

 

Reference is made to the offer letter, dated May 2, 2017 (the “ Offer Letter ”), by and between Whole Foods Market, Inc. (the “ Company ”) and you.  This letter agreement (this “ Agreement ”) constitutes the “change of control agreement” referred to in the Offer Letter:

 

Severance .  If, upon or following a Change of Control (as defined in the Whole Foods Executive Retention Plan and Non-Compete Arrangement (the “ Retention Plan ”) as in effect on the date hereof), your employment is terminated (1) by the Company without “Cause” (as defined in the Retention Plan) or (2) by you with “Good Reason” (as defined below) (each of clauses (1) and (2) above, a “Q ualifying Termination ”), you shall be entitled to receive the following, subject to your execution and delivery of a general release of claims in favor of the Company and its affiliates in substantially the form attached to the Retention Plan (and non-revocation within the time period set forth therein):

 

·                                           A lump sum cash payment equal to $2 million, payable within 30 days following the date of your Qualifying Termination (subject to the paragraph entitled “Section 409A” below).

 

·                                           If a Qualifying Termination occurs prior to the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of its 2017 fiscal year, an additional lump sum cash payment of $975,000; if such Qualifying Termination occurs on or after the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of its 2017 fiscal year but prior to the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of its 2018 fiscal year, an additional lump sum cash payment of $650,000; and if such Qualifying Termination occurs on or after the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of the 2018 fiscal year but prior to the date on which the Company pays annual bonuses in respect of the 2019 fiscal year, an additional lump sum cash payment of $325,000; in each case, payable within 30 days following your Qualifying Termination (subject to the paragraph entitled “Section 409A” below).

 



 

·                                           To the extent any portion of the restricted stock award or option award granted to you pursuant to the Offer Letter remains unvested as of a Qualifying Termination, full accelerated vesting of such awards as of the Qualifying Termination.

 

·                                           To the extent any portion of the $400,000 cash compensation payable under the Offer Letter in respect of equity awards of a prior employer that you forfeited remains unpaid as of a Qualifying Termination, a lump sum cash payment equal to such unpaid portion, payable within 30 days following the date of the Qualifying Termination (subject to the paragraph entitled “Section 409A” below).

 

For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ” has the meaning set forth in the Retention Plan; provided , however , that, (a) notwithstanding clause (i) of such definition, any changes in your authority, position, duties, responsibilities, status, offices, title, or reporting requirements resulting solely the Company ceasing to be a public company by virtue of becoming a subsidiary or division of another public company upon and following a Change of Control shall not constitute Good Reason, and (b) clause (ii) of such definition shall be applied as though you were a participant in the Retention Plan as of the date of the applicable Change of Control.

 

Section 409A .  It is intended that this Agreement shall comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and the Treasury Regulations relating thereto, or an exemption to Section 409A of the Code.  Any payments that qualify for the “short-term deferral” exception or another exception under Section 409A of the Code shall be paid under the applicable exception.  For purposes of the limitations on nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, each payment of compensation under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment of compensation for purposes of applying the Section 409A of the Code deferral election rules and the exclusion under Section 409A of the Code for certain short-term deferral amounts.  All payments to be made upon a termination of employment under this Agreement may only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A of the Code.  In no event may you, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment under this Agreement.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if you are considered a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code (as determined in accordance with the methodology established by the Company as in effect on the date of your termination of employment), any payment that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code that is otherwise due to you under this Agreement during the six-month period following your separation from service (as determined in accordance with Section 409A of the Code) on account of your separation from service shall be accumulated and paid to you on the first business day of the seventh month following your separation from service (the “ Delayed Payment Date ”) to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code.  You shall be entitled to interest on any delayed cash payments from the date of termination to the Delayed Payment Date at a rate equal to the applicable federal short-term rate in effect under Section 1274(d) of the Code for the month in which your separation from service occurs.  If you die during the postponement period, the amounts and entitlements delayed on account of Section 409A of the Code shall be paid to the personal

 

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representative of your estate on the first to occur of the Delayed Payment Date or 30 calendar days after the date of your death.

 

Miscellaneous .  This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by an agreement in writing signed by you and the Company.  This Agreement shall be binding upon any successor of the Company or its businesses (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise), in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be obligated under this Agreement if no succession had taken place.  The term “Company,” as used in this letter, shall mean the Company as defined above and any successor or assignee to the business or assets that by reason hereof becomes bound by this letter.  This letter shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas without reference to conflict of law rules.

 

*         *         *

 

We appreciate and value your dedicated service to the Company.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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Please confirm your agreement to the foregoing by executing this Agreement as indicated below.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

WHOLE FOODS MARKET, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John Mackey

 

 

Name:

John Mackey

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and Agreed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Keith Manbeck

 

 

Keith Manbeck

 

 

[ Signature Page to Change of Control Letter Agreement ]

 




Exhibit 99.1

 

Amazon to Acquire Whole Foods Market

 

Whole Foods Market ranked #28 and Amazon ranked #2 on Fortune’s 2017 list of World’s Most Admired Companies

 

June 16, 2017—Seattle, Wash. & Austin, Texas—Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Whole Foods Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:WFM) today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Amazon will acquire Whole Foods Market for $42 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $13.7 billion, including Whole Foods Market’s net debt.

 

“Millions of people love Whole Foods Market because they offer the best natural and organic foods, and they make it fun to eat healthy,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO. “Whole Foods Market has been satisfying, delighting and nourishing customers for nearly four decades — they’re doing an amazing job and we want that to continue.”

 

“This partnership presents an opportunity to maximize value for Whole Foods Market’s shareholders, while at the same time extending our mission and bringing the highest quality, experience, convenience and innovation to our customers,” said John Mackey, Whole Foods Market co-founder and CEO.

 

Whole Foods Market will continue to operate stores under the Whole Foods Market brand and source from trusted vendors and partners around the world. John Mackey will remain as CEO of Whole Foods Market and Whole Foods Market’s headquarters will stay in Austin, Texas.

 

Completion of the transaction is subject to approval by Whole Foods Market’s shareholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The parties expect to close the transaction during the second half of 2017.

 

About Amazon

 

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

 

About Whole Foods Market

 

Founded in 1978 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market is the leading natural and organic foods supermarket, the first national “Certified Organic” grocer, and uniquely positioned as America’s Healthiest Grocery Store™. In fiscal year 2016, the Company had sales of approximately $16 billion and has more than 460 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market employs approximately 87,000 team members and has been ranked for 20 consecutive years as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by Fortune magazine. For more information, please visit www.WholeFoodsMarket.com or @WholeFoods on Twitter.

 

Amazon contact info:

 

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Media Hotline
Amazon-pr@amazon.com
www.amazon.com/pr

 

Whole Foods Market contact info:

Brooke Buchanan

Brooke.buchanan@wholefoods.com

(512) 542-0751

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Amazon Forward-Looking Statements

 

Amazon’s statements related to the proposed merger with Whole Foods Market contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expected benefits of the merger, the timing of the transaction, and financing of the transaction. Actual results could differ materially from those projected or forecast in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following:  Whole Foods Market shareholders may not approve the transaction; the conditions to the completion of the transaction may not be satisfied, or the regulatory approvals required for the transaction may not be obtained on the terms expected, on the anticipated schedule, or at all; long-term financing may not be available on favorable terms, or at all; closing of the transaction may not occur or may be delayed, either as a result of litigation related to the transaction or otherwise; the parties may be unable to achieve the anticipated benefits of the transaction; revenues following the transaction may be lower than expected; operating costs, customer loss, and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, and suppliers) may be greater than expected; the Company may assume unexpected risks and liabilities; completing the merger may distract the Company’s management from other important matters; and the other factors discussed in “Risk Factors” in Amazon’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and in Amazon’s other filings with the SEC, which are available at http:// www.sec.gov . Amazon assumes no obligation to update the information in the communication, except as otherwise required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Whole Foods Market Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements in this communication constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “see,” “continue,” “could,” “can,” “may,” “will,” “likely,” “depend,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “target,” and similar expressions, and may include references to assumptions and relate to Whole Foods Market’s future prospects, developments and business strategies. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this communication are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that may cause Whole Foods Market’s actual results to be materially different from such forward-looking statements and could materially adversely affect its business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows. These risks and uncertainties include the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement; the failure to obtain the approval of Whole Foods Market’s shareholders or required regulatory clearances or the failure to satisfy any of the other closing conditions to the Merger; potential disruption of management’s attention from Whole Foods Market’s ongoing business operations due to the Merger; the effect of the announcement of the Merger on the ability of Whole Foods Market to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with its customers, suppliers and others with whom it does business, or on its operating results and business

 

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generally; general business conditions; changes in overall economic conditions that impact consumer spending; the impact of competition; and other factors which are often beyond the control of Whole Foods Market, as well other risks listed in Whole Foods Market’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2016 and risks and uncertainties not presently known to Whole Foods Market or that Whole Foods Market currently deems immaterial. Whole Foods Market wishes to caution you that you should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Whole Foods Market does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

 

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

 

In connection with the proposed transaction, Whole Foods Market will file with the SEC and mail or otherwise provide to its shareholders a proxy statement regarding the proposed transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, WHOLE FOODS MARKET’S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.  Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and other documents that Whole Foods Market files with the SEC (when available) from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and Whole Foods Market’s website at http://investor.wholefoodsmarket.com/. In addition, the proxy statement and other documents filed by Whole Foods Market with the SEC (when available) may be obtained from Whole Foods Market free of charge by directing a request to Cindy McCann, Global Vice President, Investor Relations, Whole Foods Market, Inc., 550 Bowie Street, Austin, TX 78703, Phone: 512-542-0204. Media inquiries can be directed to Brooke Buchanan at Brooke.Buchanan@wholefoods.com, Phone: 512-542-0751.

 

Certain Participants in the Solicitation

 

Whole Foods Market, its directors and certain of its executive officers and employees may be deemed, under SEC rules, to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Whole Foods Market shareholders with respect to shareholder approval of the proposed acquisition of Whole Foods Market. Information regarding the names of Whole Foods Market’s directors and executive officers and their respective interests in Whole Foods Market by security holdings or otherwise is set forth in Whole Foods Market’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2016 filed with the SEC on November 18, 2016, Whole Foods Market’s definitive proxy statement for its 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the SEC on January 4, 2017 and Whole Foods Market’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 10, 2017. To the extent holdings of such participants in Whole Foods Market’s securities are not reported, or have changed since the amounts described in the proxy statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, such changes have been reflected on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such individuals in the proposed transaction will be included in the proxy statement relating to such acquisition when it is filed with the SEC. These documents may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and Whole Foods Market’s website at http://investor.wholefoodsmarket.com.

 

###

 

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TRANSACTION OVERVIEW 27% $42 Per Share Sale Price $13.7bn Transaction Value 31.0x 37% 10.6x 34% to 12/31/16 Price to 12-Month VWAP LTM P/E1 LTM EV/EBITDA2 to Prior Close 6/15/17 Source: FactSet (6/15/17), Company filings Based on LTM Adj. Net Income of $437mm as of the quarter ended April 9, 2017, fully diluted shares outstanding of 322.7mm and implied equity value of $13.56bn Based on LTM Adj. EBITDA of $1,293mm as of the quarter ended April 9, 2017 Amazon to Acquire Whole Foods Market: Maximizing Value for All WFM Shareholders Premium Transaction Multiple All Cash Merger 41% to 3/31/17 Price Exhibit 99.2

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Important Additional Information and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed transaction, Whole Foods Market will file with the SEC and mail or otherwise provide to its shareholders a proxy statement regarding the proposed transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, WHOLE FOODS MARKET’S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement and other documents that Whole Foods Market files with the SEC (when available) from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and Whole Foods Market’s website at http://investor.wholefoodsmarket.com/. In addition, the proxy statement and other documents filed by Whole Foods Market with the SEC (when available) may be obtained from Whole Foods Market free of charge by directing a request to Cindy McCann, Global Vice President, Investor Relations, Whole Foods Market, Inc., 550 Bowie Street, Austin, TX 78703, Phone: 512-542-0204. Media inquiries can be directed to Brooke Buchanan at Brooke.Buchanan@wholefoods.com, Phone: 512-542-0751. Certain Participants in the Solicitation Whole Foods Market, its directors and certain of its executive officers and employees may be deemed, under SEC rules, to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Whole Foods Market shareholders with respect to shareholder approval of the proposed acquisition of Whole Foods Market. Information regarding the names of Whole Foods Market’s directors and executive officers and their respective interests in Whole Foods Market by security holdings or otherwise is set forth in Whole Foods Market’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2016 filed with the SEC on November 18, 2016, Whole Foods Market’s definitive proxy statement for its 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the SEC on January 4, 2017 and Whole Foods Market’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 10, 2017. To the extent holdings of such participants in Whole Foods Market’s securities are not reported, or have changed since the amounts described in the proxy statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, such changes have been reflected on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such individuals in the proposed transaction will be included in the proxy statement relating to such acquisition when it is filed with the SEC. These documents may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and Whole Foods Market’s website at http://investor.wholefoodsmarket.com. Amazon to Acquire Whole Foods Market: Maximizing Value for All WFM Shareholders

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